U.S. patent number 8,472,598 [Application Number 11/686,342] was granted by the patent office on 2013-06-25 for prepaying usage time for another communication device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Motorola Mobility LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is David J. Hayes, Von A. Mock. Invention is credited to David J. Hayes, Von A. Mock.
United States Patent |
8,472,598 |
Mock , et al. |
June 25, 2013 |
Prepaying usage time for another communication device
Abstract
A method of prepaying for usage time for a communication device
can include increasing an available balance of a prepaid account
linked to a communication device of a first user by a designated
amount responsive to a request from a second user (910) and
allocating a portion of the available balance of the prepaid
account that is attributable to the designated amount for
communicating with a designated user (915). The method further can
include paying charges resulting from communications between the
communication device of the first user and the designated user from
the allocated portion of the available balance of the prepaid
account (925).
Inventors: |
Mock; Von A. (Boynton Beach,
FL), Hayes; David J. (Lake Worth, FL) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mock; Von A.
Hayes; David J. |
Boynton Beach
Lake Worth |
FL
FL |
US
US |
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Assignee: |
Motorola Mobility LLC
(Libertyville, IL)
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Family
ID: |
39111648 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/686,342 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080130849 A1 |
Jun 5, 2008 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60867977 |
Nov 30, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/114.2;
379/114.17; 379/114.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W
4/24 (20130101); H04M 15/88 (20130101); H04M
17/00 (20130101); H04M 17/20 (20130101); H04M
15/785 (20130101); H04M 15/887 (20130101); H04M
2215/2026 (20130101); H04M 2215/0116 (20130101); H04M
2215/014 (20130101); H04M 2215/7295 (20130101); H04M
2215/0168 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
15/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;379/111,114.01,114.03,114.17,114.18,114.2,114.16 ;455/405-408 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1271911 |
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May 2005 |
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EP |
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2322771 |
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Sep 1998 |
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GB |
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0106753 |
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Jan 2001 |
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WO |
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0186933 |
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Nov 2001 |
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WO |
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02060172 |
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Aug 2002 |
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WO |
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2007032996 |
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Mar 2007 |
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WO |
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2007120117 |
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Oct 2007 |
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WO |
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Other References
Sivalingam, et al., Sharing Prepaid Mobile Telephony Credit Among a
Group, U.S. Appl. No. 11/671,559, filed Feb. 6, 2007, 26 pgs. cited
by applicant .
Patent Cooperation Treaty, "PCT Search Report and Written Opinion
of the International Searching Authority" for International
Application No. PCT/US2007/082971, Mar. 26, 2008, 13 pages. cited
by applicant .
Patent Cooperation Treaty, Notification Concerning Transmittal of
International Preliminary Report on Patentability (Chapter 1 of the
Patent Cooperation Treaty), for International Application No.
PCT/US2007/084622, Jun. 11, 2009, 10 pages. cited by
applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Tieu; Binh
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/867,977, filed Nov. 30, 2006, which is
herein incorporated by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of prepaying for usage time for a communication device
comprising: increasing an available balance of a prepaid account
linked to a communication device of a first user by a designated
amount responsive to a request from a second user; allocating a
portion of the available balance of the prepaid account that is
attributable to the designated amount for communicating with a
designated user; and paying charges resulting from communications
between the communication device of the first user and the
designated user from the allocated portion of the available balance
of the prepaid account; wherein paying charges further comprises
paying charges resulting from communications between the
communication device of the first user and the designated user from
the allocated portion of the available balance of the prepaid
account if at least one additional condition associated with the
designated user is met, wherein the additional condition specifies
a timing constraint which indicates that the communications may
only take place between defined hours.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising paying charges
resulting from communications between the communication device of
the first user and a non-designated user only from a portion of the
prepaid account not allocated to communications with designated
users.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein paying charges further comprises
decreasing the allocated portion of the available balance of the
prepaid account only for charges incurred from communications
initiated either by the first user or the designated user.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending available
balance information for the prepaid account to at least one of the
communication device of the first user or a communication device of
the second user, wherein the available balance information
specifies, at least in part, the allocated portion of the available
balance that remains in the prepaid account.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying a
designated user as any user having a defined telephone number.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying a
designated user as any user located within a selected geographic
area.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying the second
user as the designated user.
8. A method of prepaying for usage time for a communication device
comprising: increasing an available balance of a prepaid account
linked to a communication device of a first user by a designated
amount responsive to a request from a second user; allocating a
portion of the available balance of the prepaid account that is
attributable to the designated amount for communicating with a
designated user; and paying charges resulting from communications
between the communication device of the first user and the
designated user from the allocated portion of the available balance
of the prepaid account; and specifying the designated user as any
user within a predetermined number of hops of a social network of
the first user or the second user, wherein the designated user is
within one hop of the first user or the second user when the
designated user is listed in an address book of the first user or
the second user, and the designated user is within two hops of the
first user or the second user when the designated user is listed in
an address book of a contact who is listed in the address book of
the first user or the second user.
9. A processing node within a communication network comprising: an
account manager that allocates a portion of an available balance of
a prepaid account linked with a communication device of a first
user for communicating with a designated user; and a data store
comprising account information for the prepaid account, wherein the
account information specifies the portion of the prepaid account
allocated to communicating with the designated user and a portion
of the prepaid account that is allocated to communicating with a
non-designated user; wherein the account manager decreases the
portion of the prepaid account allocated to communicating with the
designated user according to charges incurred from communications
between the communication device of the first user and the
designated user, wherein the account manager receives payments for
charges resulting from communications between the communication
device of the first user and the designated user from the allocated
portion of the available balance of the prepaid account if at least
one additional condition associated with the designated user is
met, wherein the additional condition specifies a timing constraint
which indicates that the communications may only take place between
defined hours.
10. The processing node of claim 9, wherein the account manager
decreases the portion of the prepaid account that is allocated to
communicating with the non-designated user according to charges
incurred for communications between the communication device of the
first user and the non-designated user, and does not decrement the
portion of the prepaid account allocated to communicating with the
designated user.
11. The processing node of claim 9, wherein the account manager
decreases the portion of the prepaid account that is allocated to
communicating with the designated user only according to charges
incurred for communications initiated either by the first user or
the designated user.
12. The processing node of claim 9, wherein the account manager
allocates the portion of the prepaid account to communicating with
the designated user responsive to a request from a second user.
13. The processing node of claim 12, wherein the account manager
sends available balance information for the prepaid account to at
least one of the mobile device of the first user or a mobile device
of the second user, wherein the available balance information
specifies the allocated portion of the available balance that
remains in the prepaid account.
14. A communication device comprising: a transceiver disposed
within the communication device receiving an available balance of a
prepaid account linked with a different communication device and a
portion of the available balance that is allocated to communicating
with a designated user; a display; and a controller operatively
coupled to the transceiver and the display, wherein the controller
causes the available balance and the allocated portion of the
available balance of the prepaid account to be presented upon the
display; wherein the portion of the available balance allocated to
communicating with the designated user is associated with an
additional condition, wherein the controller causes an indication
of the additional condition to be presented upon the display,
wherein the additional condition specifies a timing constraint
which indicates that the communications may only take place between
defined hours.
15. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the portion of
the available balance allocated to communicating with the
designated user is available only for communications having a
specified origination point, wherein the controller causes an
indication of the specified origination point to be presented upon
the display with the portion of the available balance allocated to
communicating with the designated user.
16. The communication device of claim 14, wherein the controller
further causes profile administration information for the prepaid
account associated with the different communication device to be
presented upon the display.
17. A processing node within a communication network comprising: an
account manager that allocates a portion of an available balance of
a prepaid account linked with a communication device of a first
user for communicating with a designated user; and a data store
comprising account information for the prepaid account, wherein the
account information specifies the portion of the prepaid account
allocated to communicating with the designated user and a portion
of the prepaid account that is allocated to communicating with a
non-designated user; wherein the account manager decreases the
portion of the prepaid account allocated to communicating with the
designated user according to charges incurred from communications
between the communication device of the first user and the
designated user, wherein the designated user as any user within a
predetermined number of hops of a social network of the first user
or the second user, wherein the designated user is within one hop
of the first user or the second user when the designated user is
listed in an address book of the first user or the second user, and
the designated user is within two hops of the first user or the
second user when the designated user is listed in an address book
of a contact who is listed in the address book of the first user or
the second user.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to communication devices
that operate in conjunction with prepaid accounts.
2. Background of the Invention
The use of prepaid accounts with communication devices has grown
substantially. A prepaid account is a type of financial account
from which charges incurred for the usage of a communication device
linked to the prepaid account are paid. Whereas with a traditional,
or non-prepaid, account, a subscriber receives a bill for charges
already incurred, with a prepaid account, the account must be
funded before the communication device linked with that account can
be used. Any charges arising from usage of the communication device
linked with the prepaid account are debited from the prepaid
account when incurred.
While prepaid accounts can be used in any of a variety of different
situations, such accounts often are opened by a parent on behalf of
a child. The child can utilize the communication device only to the
extent that funds are available in the prepaid account. This
prevents the user of the communication device from incurring
expenses beyond an anticipated amount or beyond the user's ability
to pay, i.e., beyond the balance available on the prepaid
account.
In some cases, the user of the communication device may incur
enough charges that the prepaid account is depleted, leaving the
communication device unavailable for further use until the prepaid
account is replenished. In the case of a parent-child relationship,
for example, the child may exhaust the prepaid account very
quickly. The communication device will not be available for
communications, i.e., calls or other messages, whether with the
parents or others, until such time that funds are added to the
prepaid account.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of prepaying for usage
time for a communication device. The method can include increasing
an available balance of a prepaid account linked to a communication
device of a first user by a designated amount responsive to a
request from a second user and allocating a portion of the
available balance of the prepaid account that is attributable to
the designated amount for communicating with a designated user. The
method also can include paying charges resulting from
communications between the communication device of the first user
and the designated user from the allocated portion of the available
balance of the prepaid account.
Paying charges can include decreasing the allocated portion of the
available balance of the prepaid account only for charges incurred
for communications initiated either by the first user or the
designated user. Paying charges also can include paying charges
resulting from communications between the communication device of
the first user and the designated user only from the allocated
portion of the available balance of the prepaid account if at least
one additional condition associated with the designated user is
met.
The method can include paying charges resulting from communications
between the communication device of the first user and a
non-designated user only from a portion of the prepaid account not
allocated to communications with designated users. Available
balance information for the prepaid account can be sent to the
communication device of the first user, a communication device of
the second user, or both. The available balance information can
specify, at least in part, the allocated portion of the available
balance that remains in the prepaid account.
The designated user can be specified as any user having a defined
telephone number, any user located within a selected geographic
area, as the second user, or any combination thereof. The
designated user also can be specified as any user within a
predetermined number of hops of a social network of the first user
or the second user. An input also can be received from the second
user that specifies the designated user.
The present invention also can relate to a processing node within a
communication network. The processing node can include an account
manager and a data store. The account manager can allocate a
portion of an available balance of a prepaid account linked with a
communication device of a first user for communicating with a
designated user. The data store can include account information for
the prepaid account. The account information can specify the
portion of the prepaid account allocated to communicating with the
designated user and a portion of the prepaid account that is
allocated to communicating with a non-designated user.
The account manager can decrease the portion of the prepaid account
allocated to communicating with the designated user according to
charges incurred for communications between the communication
device of the first user and the designated user. The account
manager also can decrease the portion of the prepaid account that
is allocated to communicating with the non-designated user
according to charges incurred for communications between the
communication device of the first user and the non-designated user.
In that case, the account manager does not decrement the portion of
the prepaid account allocated to communicating with the designated
user. The account manager also can decrease the portion of the
prepaid account that is allocated to communicating with the
designated user only according to charges incurred for
communications initiated either by the first user or the designated
user.
The account manager can allocate the portion of the prepaid account
to communicating with the designated user responsive to a request
from a second user. The account manager further can determine that
the second user is the designated user. The account manager also
can send available balance information for the prepaid account to
at least one of the mobile device of the first user or a mobile
device of the second user, wherein the available balance
information specifies the allocated portion of the available
balance that remains in the prepaid account.
The present invention further can relate to a communication device
including a transceiver disposed within the communication device
receiving an available balance of a prepaid account linked with a
different communication device and a portion of the available
balance that is allocated to communicating with a designated user.
The communication device also can include a display and a
controller operatively coupled to the transceiver and the display.
The controller can cause the available balance and the allocated
portion of the available balance of the prepaid account to be
presented upon the display.
In one arrangement, the portion of the available balance allocated
to communicating with the designated user can be associated with an
additional condition. In that case, the controller can cause an
indication of the additional condition to be presented upon the
display. The controller also can cause profile administration
information for the prepaid account associated with the different
communication device to be presented upon the display.
The portion of the available balance allocated to communicating
with the designated user can be available only for communications
having a specified origination point. Accordingly, the controller
can cause an indication of the specified origination point to be
presented upon the display with the portion of the available
balance allocated to communicating with the designated user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described
below in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram that is useful for understanding the
present invention;
FIG. 2 depicts a communication device that is useful for
understanding the present invention;
FIG. 3 depicts another view of the user interface shown in FIG. 2
that is useful for understanding the present invention;
FIG. 4 depicts a view of a user interface for a communication
device that is useful for understanding the present invention;
FIG. 5 depicts a view of a user interface for a communication
device that is useful for understanding the present invention;
FIG. 6 depicts a view of a user interface that is useful for
understanding the present invention;
FIG. 7 depicts a view of a user interface that is useful for
understanding the present invention;
FIG. 8 depicts a view of a user interface that is useful for
understanding the present invention; and
FIG. 9 is a flowchart presenting a method that is useful for
understanding the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the specification concludes with claims defining features of
the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the
invention will be better understood from a consideration of the
description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed
embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however,
it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely
exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed
herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis
for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one
skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in
virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms
and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather
to provide an understandable description of the invention.
The present invention relates to prepaying for usage time on a
communication device. Responsive to a user request, additional
funds can be added to a prepaid account of a different user. The
additional funds can be earmarked for a particular purpose. For
example, the funds can be reserved and, therefore, only be made
available to pay charges incurred when the user of the
communication device linked with the prepaid account communicates
with one or more designated users. That is, the additional funds
may only be debited when the user of the communication device
linked with the prepaid account communicates with one of the
designated users. This allows a portion, or all, of the funds
within a prepaid account to be available for a limited purpose,
i.e., communicating with selected individuals, while another
portion of the prepaid account is available for communicating with
non-designated users.
FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a communications system 100 that
is useful for understanding the present invention. The
communications system 100 can include a communications network 105,
which can comprise, for example, the Internet, the World Wide Web,
a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a cellular
or mobile communications network, a public switched telephone
network (PSTN), and/or any other networks or systems over which
communication signals can be propagated. In that regard, the
communications network 105 can include wired and/or wireless
communication links.
The communications system 100 also can include a plurality of
communication devices 110 and 115 communicatively linked to the
communications network 105. The communication devices 110 and 115
can be mobile stations, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs),
mobile telephones, mobile radios, or mobile computers. The
communication devices 110 and 115 also can be computers, network
appliances, or any other electronic devices that may communicate
via the communications network 105. The communication devices 110
and 115 can include suitable operating software and/or applications
which cause the communication devices 110 and 115 to function as
described herein.
The communications system 100 may further include a network node
120 comprising an account manager 125 and a data storage device
including account data 130. The network node 120 can be any
processing device that is communicatively linked to the
communications network 105 and which can process requests from the
communication devices 110 and 115. For example, the network node
120 can be implemented as, or within, a network server, a Web
server, a mobile switching center, a base station controller, a
base transceiver station, or any other suitable information
processing system.
The account manager 125 can manage prepaid user accounts to perform
actions including, but not limited to, crediting a prepaid account,
debiting a prepaid account, allocating or reserving portions of an
available balance of a prepaid account for a special purpose, as
well as crediting and/or debiting from pooled and/or allocated
portions of prepaid accounts. Funds allocated for a special purpose
can be tracked separately from other funds in the prepaid account
that are not reserved for a designated purpose. Funds not reserved
or allocated as described herein can be referred to as pooled
funds.
The account data 130 can specify account information for prepaid
accounts including credits, debits, and allocations of funds within
prepaid accounts for various purposes to be described herein in
further detail. As shown, the account data 130 can include specify
information for a prepaid account 135 that is linked with the
communication device 115 as well as account information for other
communication devices (not shown) and communication device 110.
In operation, a user of a communication device 110, referred to as
an administrative user, can cause a request 140 to be sent to the
account manager 125 via the communications network 105. The request
140 can be a request to add funds to the prepaid account 135 that
is linked with the mobile station 115. Communication device 115 can
be associated with, or used by, a user that is different from the
administrative user of communication device 110.
As used herein, an administrative user refers to a user or
subscriber that is able to add funds to the prepaid account of
another user. The administrative user can be a defined role having
rights and/or privileges specified as part of a profile maintained
within the communications network 105 or the network node 120.
These rights and/or privileges can determine which prepaid accounts
the administrative user is able to fund or otherwise manage.
Alternatively, an administrative user can be any user that issues a
request to add funds to the prepaid account of another user and
need not have specialized rights or a defined "role".
The request 140 can indicate the amount of money to be added to the
prepaid account 135. In one arrangement, the communication device
110, or the account of communication device 110, can be linked with
a bank account, a credit card account, or other financial account
from which the amount of money specified in request 140 to be added
to the prepaid account 135 can be drawn.
The account manager 125 can add the funds to the prepaid account
135 and further reserve the added funds for a particular purpose or
use that can be specified by the administrative user, i.e., the
user that initiated the request 140 from communication device 110.
As such, while the funds are available for use in the prepaid
account 135, the funds are reserved for paying charges incurred for
communications sent from and/or received by the communication
device 115 that conform to the particular purpose for which the
funds have been allocated. As used herein, communications can
include, but are not limited to, telephone calls, text messages,
pages, or any other communication that can be sent or received from
a communication device such as a mobile station.
Having received the request 140, the account manager 125 can update
the account data 130 as illustrated by the information specified as
part of the prepaid account 135. For example, the request 140 can
be a request to add $17.00 to the prepaid account 135 and that such
money be reserved only for communications between the communication
device 115 and a group of one or more designated users, i.e.,
designated user(s) A. The administrative user may or may not be a
member of the designated user(s) A.
The prepaid account 135 further can have $15.00 that is available
for pooled usage. That is, the user of the communication device 115
can communicate with any user that has not been designated as
belonging to either the group of designated user(s) A or designated
user(s) B. Communications with such non-designated users can be
debited against the $15.00 of pooled funds available within the
prepaid account 135. In addition to the $17.00 that has been
allocated for communicating with designated user(s) A, the prepaid
account 135 includes $20.00 that is available and has been
allocated for communicating with the group of one or more
designated user(s) B.
It should be appreciated that the particular way in which a user is
specified as a designated user can vary and is not intended to be a
limitation of the present invention. In one arrangement, the
administrative user of the communication device 110 can specify
designated users according to a communication address associated
with each designated user. As used herein, a communication address,
or simply address, can be a telephone number, an instant messaging
address, an electronic mail address, or any other user identifier
or designation associated with a communication device or a network
destination, to which communications can be sent, directed, or
established, and for which the prepaid account 135 can be charged
or otherwise billed.
In another arrangement, a designated user can be specified in terms
of different attributes such as whether the telephone number
associated with the user has a particular area code. For example,
all users of a given area code can be determined to be a group of
designated users. In another arrangement, if the location of a
communication device can be ascertained, i.e., via Global
Positioning System (GPS) or the like, the user group can be defined
according to the location of the communication device. For example,
any user associated with communication device that is located
within a predetermined geographic area can be a designated user
belonging to a particular group of designated users. In another
example, any user having an account that is linked with a
communication device having a billing address within a given
geographic area or zip code can be a designated user of a
particular group of designated users.
In still another arrangement, designated users can be specified in
terms of proximity to the user of the communication device 115 in
the context of a social network. For example, the set of contacts
specified in the administrative user's contacts on his or her
communication device also can be maintained within the network 105
or in the network node 120. In that case, a designated user can be
any user that is listed in that address book. Such users can be
said to be within 1 hop of the user of the communication device
115, which assumes that the administrator knows the user of the
communication device 115.
This can be extended to additional hops, i.e., 2 hops, where the
designated users can include contacts listed in the address book of
a contact that was listed in the administrative user's address
book. Any number of hops can be specified, though appreciably, the
larger the number, the less likely that the user of the
communication device 115 will actually know or have met the
designated user(s). It also should be appreciated that designated
users can be specified in terms of a number of hops from the
address book of the user of the communication device 115.
In addition to being able to flexibly specify designated users and
groups of designated users, one or more conditions can be
associated with a designated user or a group of designated users as
the case may be. These conditions must be met prior to the
establishment of any communications between the communication
device 115 and the designated users. For example, timing
constraints can be associated with a given group of designated
users such that communications from the communication device 115
may only be sent to, received from, or established with such
designated users between defined hours.
Information 145 regarding the prepaid account 135 can be provide to
the communication device 115 as well as to one or more other
communication devices such as communication device 110. The prepaid
account information 145 allows the administrative user that
requested the addition of funds to the prepaid account 135 to view
the status of that account. As noted, the administrative user can
be accorded rights to add funds to the prepaid account 135 or need
not have any special or particular rights allowing such
actions.
FIG. 2 depicts a communication device 200 that is useful for
understanding the present invention. As shown, the communication
device 200 can include a controller 205, a transceiver 210, and a
user interface 215. The controller 205 can comprise, for example,
one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more digital
signal processors (DSPs), one or more application specific
integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more programmable logic devices
(PLDs), a plurality of discrete components that can cooperate to
process data, and/or any other suitable processing device. These
components can be coupled together to perform various processing
functions as described herein.
The transceiver 210 can modulate and demodulate signals to convert
signals from one form to another. The transceiver 210 can receive
and/or transmit such signals over various wireless communication
networks (not shown). In illustration, the transceiver 210 can be
configured to communicate data via IEEE 802 wireless
communications, for example, 802.11 and 802.16 (WiMax), WPA, or
WPA2. In another example, the transceiver 210 can communicate data
via GSM, TDMA, CDMA, WCDMA, or direct wireless communication. Fewer
or additional transceivers can be included within the communication
device 200. As such, the particular number of transceivers included
within the communication device 200 and/or the particular
communication protocols used are not intended to limit the present
invention.
The transceiver 210 can communicate account information to a
network node as well as receive account information from a network
node as described with reference to FIG. 1 and throughout the
specification. Accordingly, the transceiver 210 can transmit
requests to add funds to a prepaid account linked with another user
or communication device as well as receive account information
pertaining to such other account(s).
The user interface 215 can include one or more keys 220 which can
be disposed within a keypad, one or more programmable keys, or
both. A programmable key refers to a key that can be used to
initiate any of a variety of different programmatic actions within
the communication device 200 according to the particular operating
state in which the communication device 200 is disposed at the time
the programmable key is actuated or activated. The user interface
215 also can include a display 225. Other mechanisms (not shown)
for obtaining user input and providing feedback to a user can be
provided in the user interface 215. For example, the communication
device 200 can include various sensors, audio input and output
transducers, etc.
The communication device 200 further can include a data storage
device (not shown). The data storage device can include, but is not
limited to, a magnetic storage medium, an electronic storage
medium, an optical storage medium, a magneto-optical storage
medium, and/or any other storage medium suitable for storing
digital information such as program code that, when executed, can
cause a processor or controller such as controller 205 to execute
one or more of the functions described herein. In one arrangement,
the data storage device can be integrated into the controller 205,
though this need not be the case.
In operation, the transceiver 210, operating under the control of
the controller 205, can receive prepaid account information from a
network node as well as transmit prepaid account information to the
network node. The controller 205 further can cause one or more
items of account information to be presented upon the display 225
of the communication device 200. The items of account information
can be presented, for example, within a user interface 230.
As shown, the user interface 230 can be presented upon the display
225 of the communication device 200. The user interface 230 can
present various items of information relating to a prepaid account
associated, or linked with, a different communication device. In
one arrangement, the user interface 230 can be implemented as an
enhanced address book in which any funds available in the prepaid
account that are not allocated to particular users are shown as
pooled funds indicated by the symbol "(P)".
A total of $40.00 is available in the prepaid account. The funds
are earmarked as indicated in the user interface 230. The users
"Amy" and "Bob", not being designated users, are displayed with the
total amount of pooled funds being presented next to each name. The
pooled funds totaling $15.00 are available for communicating with
either "Amy" or "Bob" or any other non-designated user. The user
interface 200 further shows that $10.00 of the $40.00 is available
and has been allocated to communicating with designated user "Mom".
The user interface 200 also shows that $15.00 of the $40.00 is
available and has been allocated to communicating with designated
user "Dad".
FIG. 3 depicts another view of the user interface 230 of FIG. 2
that is useful for understanding the present invention. FIG. 3
illustrates the case in which the user of the communication device
linked with the prepaid account has exhausted his or her pooled
funds. The user of the communication device can communicate with
any non-designated user until such time that the pooled funds are
exhausted. The allocated funds for communicating with designated
users "Mom" and "Dad", however, are not debited when the user
speaks with non-designated users. Accordingly, the user interface
230 still shows available balances of $10.00 and $15.00 for
designated users "Mom" and "Dad" respectively. The allocated funds
for "Mom" and "Dad" are only debited as a result of communications
between the communication device linked with the prepaid account
and a communication device or address associated with either "Mom"
or "Dad" respectively.
FIG. 4 depicts a view of a user interface 400 for a communication
device that is useful for understanding the present invention. The
user interface 400 can be presented upon the communication device
of the administrative user that issued the request to fund the
prepaid account, i.e., the communication device 110 of FIG. 1. For
example, the administrative user can be "Dad" as discussed with
reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In this case, the user interface 400
indicates that the prepaid account of Teen 1, who is the user
having the prepaid account, still has $15.00 that has been
allocated for communicating with designated user "Dad", who, in
this case, also can be the administrative user.
FIG. 5 depicts a view of a user interface 500 for a communication
device that is useful for understanding the present invention. In
this example, the user interface 500 can be one presented upon a
communication device corresponding to the designated user "Mom" as
discussed with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The user interface 500
indicates that the prepaid account of user "Teen 1" still has
$10.00 that has been allocated for communicating with designated
user "Mom". In this example, the designated user "Mom" also can be
an administrative user.
FIG. 6 depicts a view of a user interface 600 that is useful for
understanding the present invention. The user interface 600
presents profile information corresponding to a prepaid account of
a different user and/or communication device. The user interface
600 can be presented to a user that has an administrative or
supervisory role with respect to one or more prepaid accounts of
other users to manage and/or define designated users and/or groups
of designated users as the case may be. In one arrangement, the
user interface 600 can be presented upon the display of the
communication device of the administrative user. In another
arrangement, the user interface 600 can be presented through a
Web-type interface, such as a browser, where a Web interface is
provided over the Internet to the administrative user for
interacting with the account manager. In that case, the
administrative user also can access the interface via a
conventional computer system.
As shown, the administrative user, i.e., the user "Dad", has
created a group of designated users. When funds are added to the
prepaid account for "Teen 1" by "Dad", such funds will be available
to the designated users or group(s) of designated users specified
by "Dad". Should the user "Teen 1" desire to communicate with one
of the designated users, i.e., "Mom's Mobile", "Teen Mobile 2",
"Home Landline", "Work Phone 1", "Work Phone 2", "Emergency
Numbers", or "Dad's Mobile", the portion of the available balance
in the prepaid account for "Teen 1" that has been allocated to that
designated user or the group in which the designated user is a
member, will be debited. The pooled funds are not debited in that
case.
It should be appreciated that one or more such groups can be
defined or created though only one is shown. Further, the
designated users can be specified in a hierarchical fashion. In
illustration, the designated user "Emergency Numbers" can be
another group specifying one or more designated numbers, such as
"911", "Fire Rescue", numbers for other relatives, etc. This group
can be included within another group as a sub-group.
Accordingly, when funds are added to a prepaid account, the
administrative user can specify the particular designated users or
groups of designated users to which the funds will be allocated as
well as the various amounts allocated to each if more than one
designated user or group is specified. As noted, conditions can be
attached to particular designated users or groups of designated
users. Thus, as shown, the user "Teen 1" may only use the allocated
funds for calling the designated user "Teen Mobile 2" during the
hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
FIG. 7 depicts a view of a user interface 700 that is useful for
understanding the present invention. The user interface 700 can be
presented upon the communication device of an administrative user,
for example the user "Dad". In this arrangement, an arrow 705 is
shown next to the entry corresponding to the user "Teen 1". The
arrow 705 indicates that in addition to allocating a portion of the
funds of a prepaid account for a particular purpose or calling a
particular user, such funds also can be allocated for
communications occurring in a particular direction.
The entry for the user "Teen 1" indicates that an amount of $15.00
is reserved in the prepaid account of "Teen 1" for communicating
with the administrative user. The arrow indicates that the $15.00
allocation is only to be debited when the designated user, who in
this example can be the administrator "Dad", calls "Teen 1". If
user "Teen 1" wishes to call the administrative user "Dad", the
charges that are incurred will be paid for from the available
pooled funds.
FIG. 8 depicts a view of a user interface 800 that is useful for
understanding the present invention. The user interface 800 can be
one that is presented upon the communication device of the user
"Teen 1" and further illustrates the directional nature of
allocated funds in the prepaid account as discussed with reference
to FIG. 7. In this case, since the user "Teen 1" must use pooled
minutes to initiate calls to the user "Dad", the available funds
are shown as pooled and not as specially allocated funds. Only the
user "Mom" is allocated funds from the prepaid account in this
example. In this example, a total of only $25.00 is available
within the prepaid account.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, it should be appreciated that the
administrative user can specify that charges for communications to
designated users are only to be applied for communications that
take place as either incoming or outgoing communications. For
example, the user adding funds to a prepaid account can indicate
that the funds are available only for paying for outgoing calls to
a designated user, for paying for incoming calls from a designated
user, or for both.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart presenting a method 900 that is useful for
understanding the present invention. The method 900 can be
performed by a system such as the one described with reference to
FIG. 1. Further, the method 900 can begin in a state in which an
administrative user has specified one or more designated users or
groups of designated users for a given prepaid account.
In step 905, a request to add funds to a prepaid account can be
received from an administrative user. The request can specify the
prepaid account to receive the funds, the amount of money to be
added to the prepaid account, as well as the particular designated
user(s) to which the funds will be allocated. In step 910, the
funds can be added or credited to the prepaid account indicated by
the request, thereby increasing the balance of the prepaid account.
In step 915, the added funds can be allocated or reserved for the
designated user(s) specified in the request.
In step 920, any time a communication is received by or initiated
from the communication device linked with the prepaid account, a
determination can be made as to whether adequate funds exist in the
prepaid account to pay for or support such communication(s).
Accordingly, communications with designated users are permitted
only if adequate funds have been allocated for such communications
and are available for the type of communication being considered,
i.e., incoming or outgoing. Communications with non-designated
users are permitted only if adequate pooled funds are available.
Exceptions can be made for emergency situations, i.e., 911 service,
or other special cases if so desired. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that the communications network can send information to
the communication device indicating whether the device will be
active or not and for which purposes the communication device can
be used, i.e., calling designated users, non-designated users,
etc.
In step 925, any charges that are incurred as a result of use of
the communication device linked with the prepaid account to
communicate with a designated user can be debited from the portion
of the prepaid account that has been allocated for communications
with that designated user. In step 930, any charges incurred as a
result of use of the communication device linked with the prepaid
account to communicate with a non-designated user can be debited
against the pooled funds available in the prepaid account.
The present invention is directed to funding prepaid accounts for
communication devices. Funds can be added to prepaid accounts by
persons other than the user of the account and, further, can be
earmarked or allocated for particular purposes. Accordingly, any
funds allocated for particular purposes are only debited when the
user of the communication device linked to the prepaid account uses
the communication device to communicate in a manner that complies
with the particular purpose. Otherwise, the portion of the funds of
the prepaid account not allocated and, thus, which are pooled, can
be debited.
The present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or a
combination of hardware and software. The present invention can be
realized in a centralized fashion in one processing system or in a
distributed fashion where different elements are spread across
several interconnected processing systems. Any kind of processing
system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods
described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and
software can be a processing system with an application that, when
being loaded and executed, controls the processing system such that
it carries out the methods described herein. The present invention
also can be embedded in an application product which comprises all
the features enabling the implementation of the methods described
herein and, which when loaded in a processing system, is able to
carry out these methods.
The terms "computer program," "software," "application," variants
and/or combinations thereof, in the present context, mean any
expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of
instructions intended to cause a system having an information
processing capability to perform a particular function either
directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to
another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different
material form. For example, an application can include, but is not
limited to, a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object
method, an object implementation, an executable application, an
applet, a servlet, a MIDlet, a source code, an object code, a
shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of
instructions designed for execution on a processing system.
The terms "a" and "an," as used herein, are defined as one or more
than one. The term "plurality," as used herein, is defined as two
or more than two. The term "another," as used herein, is defined as
at least a second or more. The terms "including" and/or "having,"
as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open
language).
This invention can be embodied in other forms without departing
from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly,
reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to
the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the
invention.
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